Music Picks

Korn is easily modern metal’s most influential band (dig the proliferation of seven-string guitars since 1994’s Korn), but the buzz goes that they’ve lost it (dig the proliferation of seven-string guitars in pawn shops). Maybe it’s Jonathan Davis’ increasingly tiresome me-so-crazy rants and that adorable/pathetic wisp of a moustache, or the waxy buildup of the gazillion nü-metal bands Korn sired, who knows? Should Epic Records ever get around to sending that copy of the big K’s new Untouchables requested months ago, we’ll investigate further. Thursday, Nov. 21 @ The E Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Dr., 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 800-888-TIXX (with Disturbed and Trust Company).

ERIC BIBB

“You turn on the television, you see too much American music,” says big-in-Europe Yankee guitarist Eric Bibb of our homeland disinterest in the blues. “You see them today and in a year they don’t exist. This isn’t culture, really, it’s money.” Yes, and? Despite Bibb’s failure to grasp the US of A’s consumer spending model (chew up, spit out, repeat), Bibb is a smooth bluesman who touches on country, gospel and soul for some of the most soothing roots music around—and aren’t all of those forms of American music? Thursday, Nov. 21 @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 801-395-3227

GARRIN BENFIELD

There just aren’t enough artists who give props to Boz Skaggs—San Francisco’s Garrin Benfield is here to take up the slack, both musically and verbally. “To me, Boz is one of the great singers and songwriters,” says Benfield, who’d previously opened for Skaggs, who in turn sat in on the singer-guitarist’s new folk-pop gem, Nowhere is Brighter (Eighth Note). “It’s nice to have a connection to that history.” Musically, Benfield echos The Boz, James Taylor and David Gray, but with his own lyrical twists and virtuoso guitar chops. Thursday, Nov. 21 @ The Lazy Moon, 32 E. Exchange Place, 363-7600, 9 p.m. (with Andy Shelton).

BLUES TRAVELER

Bassist Bobby Sheehan drops dead, harmonica Hendrix John Popper drops 200 pounds, the band is dropped from A&M Records—and yet all anyone can ask is, “Dude, when’s the HORDE tour comin’ back?” Nothing on that front, but can you make do with a new self-released live album, What You and I Have Been Through, that doesn’t include the we’ve-hear-it-too-many-damn-times hit “Run-Around”? Thought so. If you just have to have that tune again, however, the old label has just issued Travelogue, a best-of collection that’s sure to separate the diehards from the casuals. Thursday, Nov. 21 @ Harry O’s, 427 Main, Park City, 435-647-9494, 9:30 p.m.

HANA LUCARELLI

You don’t see much classical music in these pages because, frankly, none of our music writers are all that cultured (except for Ben Fulton, but he’s too busy manning the paper and sweating over the Middle East). Still, local pianist extraordinaire Hana Lucarelli is releasing her debut disc, Intermezzo, featuring the work of Spanish and South American composers Albeniz, Granados, Mompou, Nazareth and Ponce, and even to the untrained ear, it’s simply gorgeous music. “The intention was to create a recording that could cross the classical music barriers,” she says, “and set the mood for a musical dream.” Saturday, Nov. 23 @ Borders, 50 S. Main, Crossroads Plaza, 355-6899, 3-5 p.m.

ROCK STEADY

Not a ska/reggae tribute, but a concert to benefit the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Research Fund and local Parkinson’s charities (“Shake, Rattle & Roll” was rejected for obvious reasons). Seriously, Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the central nervous system, leaving sufferers unable to direct or control their movement, and cause nor cure have yet to be found—it could hit anyone. Locals Misty Murphy, Rich Wyman, SuperSoFar, Dirty Birds, Road Hawgs and Ghostowne (fronted by Rock Steady organizer Steven Wells) will perform for a mere $10 admission, all going to the cause. Sunday, Nov. 24 @ The Hard Rock Café, 505 S. 600 East, 532-7625, 4-11 p.m.

THREE DOORS DOWN

You know Mississippi’s Three Doors Down have gotta be a little pissed that their 2001 multi-platinum hit “Kryptonite” isn’t wafting behind young Clark Kent on The WB’s Smallville instead of “Save Me” by fellow Southerners Remy Zero. Still, 3DD are liquid with a new album (Away From the Sun) and kick-ass financial investments. “A couple hundred thousand, maybe—that’s just off of touring,” singer Chris Henderson told BankRate.com about his yearly earnings. “I haven’t bought any commercial property, although I have been looking at some.” Rock & roll! Tuesday, Nov. 26 @ Bricks, 579 W. 200 South, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 800-888-TIXX (with Breaking Benjamin).

AVAIL, HEY MERCEDES

In further Bible Belt news, Beau Beau of Virginia’s Avail wants you to know it’s all good down there: “We’re from the South, and if you don’t like it you can kiss my fucking ass.” Well said. Of course, the band’s smarter-than-the-average-punk music also deals with their hometown’s murder rate and pollution, among other things, on the new Front Porch Stories (Fat Wreck), but at least they gots the pride. And, as always, “Hey Mercedes” is how you get the attention of the coolest waitress at the Zephyr Club (inside joke No. 538). Wednesday, Nov. 27 @ Bricks, 579 W. 200 South, 6 p.m. Tickets: 24Tix.com.

CANNIBAL CORPSE

So hysterically over the top of the top that “musical” merit is beside the point, Cannibal Corpse’s brand of meat-grinder metal now actually seems quaint and comforting. Their unburdened-by-talent style (sub-Slayer speed-chugga riffs under indecipherable constipated-zombie grunts) and lunkhead substance (long pretty hair; leather jackets; songs about death, death and death) haven’t changed one wit in 14 years—is there really a big diff between Cannibal Corpse and Kenny G? Haven’t both recorded a ditty called “Entrails Ripped From a Virgin’s C …?” Never mind. Wednesday, Nov. 27 @ Xscape, 115 S. West Temple, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 877-548-3237 (with Macabre, Cephalic Carnage and Deeds of Flesh).